Paragliding Slovenia

CIVL 2014

CIVL 2014

Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 16:45

by igorer

The PG Committee held an Open meeting for a full day. Over 40 people attended.It was underlined that the meeting could propose amendments to the PG-Committee proposals, but that the PG-C would have final say on its own proposals. If delegates disagreed with the PG-C proposals, they could amend such proposals during the plenary.Every proposal was discussed at length. A few changes concerning typos and clarifications, and for CCC measurements and acceptance of EN gliders, were agreed on. Three amendments were asked for:have the same requirements for helmets than HG,have the same penalties for airspace infringement than HG,in the CCC requirements, have the inflight test done with a 3 second pilot reaction time i.s.o. 2 seconds.The PG Committee rejected these 3 amendments.A new proposal was added in agreement between the PG-Committee and the Open meeting. It concerned controls of gliders during the 2014 Category 1 championships.The Plenary meeting agreed with all PG Committee final proposals except the one concerning the CCC in-flight test pilot reaction time: it will be 3 second and not 2. Also concerning CCC, there was re-wording of physical requirements of the flat aspect ratio and modifications on weight range and acceptance of EN gliders.Whats up then?Big one: the CCC requirements passed unanimously. The requirements are available here (with a couple of typos that will be fixed asap). It was also voted that "revised definitions of the requirements may be proposed to the 2015 Plenary after the Roldanillo World Championships. At all times, CIVL Bureau has the power to adjust the requirements. The PG-Committee will be consulted before such adjustments are made." This will ensure that any adjustment can be made at any time if needed. This last bit passed unanimously, which shows that both the Bureau and PG Committee have gained the full trust of the Delegates.Another big one: the joint PG Committee and Software Working Group proposals. Here also decisions on the proposals and new document passed unanimously. There were a couple of amendments:GPS altitude measurements: the Bureau was trusted on the effect on instruments and make a decision based on this information on which altitude reference is used, and make that decision before May 1st 2014.Altitude correction with "true altitude". This will not be used to check for airspace infringements.A sensitive issue, in the wake of the PWCA Super Final confusion: should we control the gliders during the 2014 Continental championships and how? The Plenary decided that the Local Regulations of the 2014 European and Pan-American championships will state that glider control will be carried out. Guidelines will be published on what to measure, how and with what tolerances. These will be in accordance with CCC measurements and tolerances. CIVL will send someone to do the measurement, on CIVL budget.Other decisions:New helmets are allowed. See a previous News here.Continental WPRSs will be implemented.In European championships, the qualification criteria will refer to the top 400 of the European WPRS.Penalties for airspace infringement are newly defined. Where the pilot's track log is recorded closer than 20m from prohibited airspace, vertically or horizontally, a penalty of 2% of the pilot's task score per meter shall be deducted, resulting in a zero 30m within the restricted zone.Skills defined in the Pilot Experience Declaration form are updated.Cloud flying: a line will be added in the Pilot Safety Report form. This line requests the pilot indicates cloud base height that they determined at the start gate and at the end of the task." This will be another way, but not the only one, for the meet director to analyse cloud flying and penalize or not.Finally, a general declaration concerning safety will be added in Section 7:"CIVL recognize that some pilots will choose to trade performance, cost, comfort, convenience, etc. over safety in their choice of personal safety equipment. The results of accidents and injuries affect not just the pilots that may injure themselves due to lack of protection, but friends and family of pilots and the sport as a whole. History shows us that injuries could have been prevented with simple means of better personal protection. E.g. crushable foam in helmets.CIVL also recognize the fact that pilots are personally responsible for their and others safety at all times, both in competition and free flying. No rules or equipment can prevent accidents when human factors are involved in decision making. However certain safety equipment can in some cases prevent severe injuries without incurring major negative factors for pilots. E.g. parachutes.CIVL will therefore mandate use of some personal safety equipment, and will set minimum standards of that equipment where needed."

Re: CIVL 2014

The aim was to allow pilots access to the most current technology, best selection and value in helmets by including standards that are broadly equivalent.

All pilots competing in 1st Category events must now wear a helmet certified to either EN966 (HPG), ASTM 2040 (Snow Sports) or SNELL rs98 (Snow Sports) at all times while flying.

In hang gliding, the EN1077-A and -B are also allowed.

Recent research has shown that a significant proportion of the brain damage from impacts is from rotational forces, from which currently allowed helmets offer no protection. Technologies such as M.I.P.S. are available today in snow sports helmets.

To offer the certified level of protection, helmets must be replaced regularly. The availability of lower cost helmets in a greater selection of sizes and models will encourage pilots do this. Having a helmet that fits well and securely is critical. Expanding the selection of helmets available will make that possible for many more pilots.

Implementation: May 1st 2014.

Re: CIVL 2014

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:52

by igorer

PGA

The PG Accuracy Committee held an Open meeting for a two days. Almost 30 people attended.

The 2013 key competitions where reviewed: World Games in Colombia, World championship in Bosnia-Herzegovina, pre-Asian in Malaysia and pre-European in Serbia. Two bids were received for the 2016 championships:

the 5th European in Lithuania and the 3rd Asian in Kazakhstan. Both were considered as safe and suitable places and organization for Cat 1 competitions.

Section 7 changes were proposed, some agreed and some not.

Agreed:

Radio: voice radio transmitters are allowed for reasons of safety and communication between the organizer, team leaders and the pilots. Safety frequencies must be used for a safety reasons only. Allowed radios frequencies shall be specified in the LR. Re-launches: OK if the competitor changes his flight plans for safety reasons, whatever they are, and then does not attempt to land on the target. Location of target: no minimum height difference required. Measuring device: dead centre to be 2cm. A 2cm or 3cm DC can be used in any cat.2 competitions till 31.12.2015. Device and DC diameter will be specified in LR. Current Champions, male and female (world and continental) shall be allowed a discretionary entry to defend their title if not selected for their national team by their NAC but they shall not score for their nation. Continentals championships: if any suitable spots remain, pilots from other continents will be accepted. Records and badges: new references.

Not agreed:

New definition of of final approach. New wording for re-launch at the judges discretion.

Also discussed:

New wording for the definition of the target and the measurement field. Proposition to use two targets, on competition. Discussed and decided to try use it in Cat 2 competitions, and then share the practical information. World Games: as they are, the scheme of invitation for those who are able to join is for individual, not for country. Invitation should be based on country and quota applied based on the country ranking, not based on the athletes ranking. Albania and China to bid for the 2017 World Championship. Proposition to extend the teams till 5 members plus 3.

The Plenary followed unanimously the Open meeting proposals.

Re: CIVL 2014

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:52

by igorer

HG

The Hang Gliding Committee held its Open meeting for half a day. Over 20 people attended.

No bids were received for the 2016 Continental championships. It was suggested that a European be organized in 2015, but there was some opposition as a World championship was also run the same year.

Forbes 2014 World was discussed in the light of the FAI Tribunal report. It was underlined that the “Risk assessment" proposal addresses some of the issues pointed out.

Sprogs measuring instruments have been issued to all team leaders. Pilot education is working and manufacturers have learned to set up sprogs to a safe and repeatable level. Spot checks should be done in events, with no need to pre-checks of all gliders.

The Sport Class was discussed extensively but no decision was taken, as everyone is observing what will happen in the 1st Category 1 event ever organised, this summer in Annecy, France.

How to control gliders and make sure they are not prototypes? Again an extensive discussion with no real outcome. The Committee will keep working on it.

Also discussed:

Ballast in Class 1. Measuring twist in Class 5. Single radio frequency in case of bad weather. Include Class 5 in Class 1 championships. Include men and women in the same Class 1 championships. … and the proposals to be voted by the Plenary.

So the Plenary agreed on the following proposals:

Scoring: the joint HG/PG Committee and Software Working Group proposals are passed unanimously. There were a couple of amendments:

GPS altitude measurements: the Bureau was trusted “on the effect on instruments and make a decision based on this information on which altitude reference is used, and make that decision before May 1st 2014.“ Altitude correction with "true altitude". This will not be used to check for airspace infringements.

Scoring a stopped task: Pilots will get additional distance to the GPS position of five times their altitude above goal height at stop time.

Penalties for airspace infringement are newly defined. “The penalty for violation of published airspace restrictions shall be a warning for the first infringement of less than 100m by a pilot. For infringements greater than this or for subsequent infringements the pilot shall score zero for the day.”

Cloud flying: a line will be added in the Pilot Safety Report form. “This line requests the pilot indicates cloud base height that they determined at the start gate and at the end of the task." This will be another way, but not the only one, for the meet director to analyse cloud flying and penalize or not.

New helmets are allowed. See a previous News here.

A general declaration concerning safety is added in Section 7:

"CIVL recognize that some pilots will choose to trade performance, cost, comfort, convenience, etc. over safety in their choice of personal safety equipment. The results of accidents and injuries affect not just the pilots that may injure themselves due to lack of protection, but friends and family of pilots and the sport as a whole. History shows us that injuries could have been prevented with simple means of better personal protection. E.g. crushable foam in helmets.

CIVL also recognize the fact that pilots are personally responsible for their and others safety at all times, both in competition and free flying. No rules or equipment can prevent accidents when human factors are involved in decision making. However certain safety equipment can in some cases prevent severe injuries without incurring major negative factors for pilots. E.g. parachutes.

CIVL will therefore mandate use of some personal safety equipment, and will set minimum standards of that equipment where needed."

Risk assessment workflow and reporting, repeated for every task:

The proposed system will be tested at the pre-Worlds in Mexico and in USA competitions before becoming effective from January 1st, 2015.

Safety committee and safety director get the planned task for the day, along with official forecast and current weather data.

The weather data is plotted into the risk assessment form, along with the safety committee and safety director's view of the task risk factors in the form.

In case of disagreement the majority vote wins, all committee members have one vote each, safety director has one vote.

If the results are level 3 on one or more of the first 5 weather conditions, safety committee should ask for postponement of the task/new task, or cancellation if no improvement is expected.

If the results are level 3 on one or more of the task conditions, safety committee should ask the task committee to remake the task so that risks can be reduced.

In case of any level 2 risks, the number of level 2 risk factors should never be higher than 3, and whenever possible the task must be changed to reduce the active level 2 risks down to level 1.

The completed task risk assessment from the safety committee MUST be posted on the task board every day, and be part of the task briefing every day, where any level 2 risks are described in detail.

Pilots MUST give feedback each day with the track log, this feedback is to be collected by scorer, anonymized, and summarized to be posted along with the scores and pre-task risk assessment each day.

Next day the safety committee and safety director evaluate the results and feedback from pilots to see if they missed something, or something can be improved.

The risk assessment results and feedback are also to be reported back to CIVL along with the steward report.

Re: CIVL 2014

Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 8:53

by igorer

R&B

No Open meeting with the Records & Badges Officer, but agreement of the PG Accuracy and Aerobatic Committee, then of the Plenary on the following…

Accuracy records.

2cm Dead Center has now to be used for records instead of 3cm. 3cm can still be used till 31.12.2015 in any cat 2, and can also be used for badge flights.

Minimums:

Number of consecutive valid rounds in FAI sanctioned competitions with a score of 0: 3 Number of consecutive valid rounds in FAI sanctioned competitions with a score of =<5cm together with the sum of those scores measured in cm: 5